Pollution leak kills fish in Haslingden (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pollution leak kills fish in Haslingden

12:04pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after hundreds of fish were killed following a pollution leak in Haslingden waterways.

Officers from the Environment Agency are carrying out tests to trace the source of the leak in Swinnel Brook and the River Ogden, last Thursday afternoon.

The spill has left more than 400 fish, including brown trout, bullhead and stickleback, dead.

It covers a 500-metre stretch of Swinnel Brook as well as a one-kilometre section of the River Ogden, downstream in Helmshore.

The incident was reported by a member of the public who noticed the dead fish in the brook.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said around 300 brown trout have been found dead, includ-ing young and mature varieties, some of which were more than 12 inches in length. And a further 100 bullhead fish have died as well as 30 sticklebacks.

He said: “We sent officers to the scene to have a look in response to information from a member of the public. We are carrying out inquiries as we have been unable to trace the source of the pollution.

“The liquid has already started to disperse. In terms of the long term impact, any surviving fish upstream and downstream will re-populate and the water will recover naturally over time.

“People may see dead fish for a while as nature takes its course.”

The brooks form the River Ogden which flows past, and used to provide a power source for Helmshore Textile Museum.

The spokesman said a vintage car rally had taken place in the area on Thursday before the dead fish were discovered.

Officers from the Environment Agency are now appealing for information about the spill, in the hope that people attending the rally may have seen something going into the water.

The spill follows a similar incident two weeks ago, when a mystery liquid had a “devastating” effect on local fish population, in Whitewell Brook, near Waterfoot.

Greenfield Coun Gladys Sandiford said: “It really does concern me.

“What they have got to do is find out if it was one source which caused the pollution.

“We have just got the rivers free from pollution and got the fish and wildlife back.

"It isn’t just the fish – it affects the kingfishers and herons as well.”

Call the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.